From 2006 to 2018, the utility added three plants to its generation lineup: Attala Plant in Sallis, Hinds ���ϳԹ��� Facility in Jackson and Choctaw ���ϳԹ��� Facility in French Camp. By replacing older legacy plants with more advanced combined-cycle natural gas turbine technology, Entergy Mississippi is producing more electricity from the same amount of fuel while significantly reducing carbon emissions. 

In addition to high-efficiency gas units, the Sunflower Solar Station near Ruleville is generating emission-free electricity as part of EDGE, for “,” a program that will add 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid in the next five years.

“Entergy Mississippi’s plan to modernize its generation capacity is very responsive to changing customer needs and environmental goals,” said Darron Case, who retired in 2022 as director of resource planning and market operations. “Many factors are involved in developing an economical, well-balanced energy mix that positions our communities for growth while reflecting Entergy’s environmental leadership.”

Staying ahead of the curve

The way customers use electricity has changed dramatically over the last century with the proliferation of household appliances, air conditioning and all-electric homes. As demand increased through the decades, Entergy Mississippi stayed ahead of the curve by building cost-effective generation capacity to fuel growth.

In more recent years, the company’s investments in modern combined-cycle turbine technology have provided greater flexibility in meeting our customers’ energy needs using the most economical generation sources available.

As Entergy Mississippi’s “base load” power source, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station generates safe, low-cost, emission-free electricity to meet customers’ baseline needs. When usage rises in the morning and builds throughout the day, the utility’s combined-cycle gas units generate the electricity required to match increases and peaks in demand.

“Older gas-fired plants were very reliable but could take several days to start up and get to full speed,” explained Case. “New combined-cycle units can start quickly and get up to 100% power fast, allowing their generation capacity to be available precisely when needed to serve the needs of residential, business and industrial customers.”

Buying versus building produces savings for customers

Entergy Mississippi acquired Attala Plant in 2006, in 2012 and in 2019. The company purchased them for amounts that were far less than the cost of building comparable facilities, which passes along savings to customers while eliminating construction time and the risks associated with building new plants.

Entergy also has taken other steps to prepare for the future. In 2012, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station completed a power upgrade that significantly increased its output of carbon-free, low-cost electricity, and the plant’s safe record helped earn regulatory approval to extend its operating license through 2044.

In 2013, Entergy joined the Midwest Independent System Operator, a regional transmission organization. In the first five years, the company’s membership saved Mississippi customers approximately on electric bills, along with other benefits.

“Many factors are involved in making sure that when a customer flips a switch, electricity is there,” Case said. “Entergy Mississippi employees have built an excellent performance record by operating plants safely and efficiently, and making sure customers always have access to a reliable supply of power. And with sustainability as a focal point, they’re improving environmental performance to benefit current and future generations.”

JACKSON, Miss. – It was the end of an era the morning of Thursday, July 28. That’s when Entergy Mississippi imploded the remainder of the Rex Brown Steam Electric Station, a natural gas-fired plant that served the company’s customers for 71 years.

The controlled implosion was the final stage of the demolition of the generating facility, named for a former Mississippi Power & Light Company president. Entergy retired the plant in 2019 as part of a process to modernize its generating portfolio. In an effort to be a good corporate citizen, the company is removing all traces of the decommissioned plant. Crews have been removing chemicals and equipment, disconnecting power sources and dismantling outlying structures from its prominent site on Jackson’s Northside Drive.

At peak capacity, the Rex Brown plant could generate 676,000 kilowatts of electricity.

“Rex Brown played a crucial role in Entergy being able to meet its obligation to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to our customers,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. “But as newer, cleaner technologies emerged and the plant neared the end of its useful life, it was time to retire Rex Brown and focus on modernizing our grid to make it even more reliable and resilient for customers now and in the future.”

The land that the plant sat on is Entergy-owned property and will be held by the company for future use. The land that the cooling pond is on is 16^th section property owned by Jackson Public Schools. Entergy leased the property and will return it to JPS in its original state, per JPS’ request.

Entergy Mississippi has been in operation for nearly 100 years. During that time, the company has owned and operated many natural gas-fired generating plants, as well as Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. As the older plants, such as Rex Brown, reached the end of their natural lives the company has taken steps to replace their generating capacity:

• . In May, construction was complete on a 100-megawatt renewable solar power station in the Mississippi Delta. It will provide clean energy to Entergy Mississippi’s 461,000 customers.
• . “Economic Development with Green ���ϳԹ���” is a program announced last year that will replace some aging natural gas plants with 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy, such as solar, over the next five years. The program’s strategy is two-fold: give Mississippi an edge in recruiting industry while also giving Entergy customers a hedge against volatile natural gas prices. It will be the largest expansion of renewable power in state history.
• . Entergy purchased this clean, modern 810-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas turbine unit in 2019.
• . Entergy joined the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a regional transmission organization, in 2013. MISO operates sophisticated markets for the purchase and sale of electricity, and membership has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in savings to Entergy Mississippi customers to date as well as increased reliability.
• Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. In 2012, Entergy upgraded its nuclear plant to increase its output of power to more than 1,440 megawatts and purchased additional output from Entergy Arkansas. The company also won approval to extend the license to operate the plant through 2044.
• . Entergy purchased this clean, modern 450-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas turbine unit in 2012.

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 461,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,500 employees.

JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy Mississippi, LLC has closed its purchase of the 810-megawatt Choctaw County Generating Station. The transaction represents a major step toward modernizing the electric grid and providing additional efficient, clean energy for customers.

Located near French Camp, Mississippi, the Choctaw County Generating Station entered commercial operation in July 2003. It is a clean and modern combined-cycle natural gas turbine unit, consisting of three combustion turbines, a steam turbine and an air-cooled condenser. The plant will employ 27 people.

“Today’s announcement is one more step toward modernizing our generating fleet and moves us forward in our quest to provide greater reliability, lower emissions and cost savings to our customers,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO.

“It also gives us a presence in Choctaw County, and we’re excited about the partnership we’ll have with the local community and its leaders and look forward to working with them as a corporate partner.”

In August 2018, Entergy Mississippi announced it had entered into a purchase agreement with a subsidiary of GenOn ���ϳԹ���, Inc., to buy the plant for $314 million, subject to certain adjustments. That amount is significantly less than the cost to build a comparable facility and provides more immediate benefits and savings for customers. 

The facility’s technology uses natural gas and its steam byproduct to produce clean, affordable electricity. It is also environmentally-friendly and furthers ���ϳԹ���’s reputation as one of the cleanest utilities in the country.

The Choctaw County Generating Station is another important milestone in Entergy’s broader plan to modernize and transform the Entergy Utility’s existing generation fleet. Over the past 20 years, the Entergy Utility has added approximately 8 gigawatts of clean, highly efficient generation, allowing for the deactivation of over 6 gigawatts of older, less-efficient gas or oil units.

In addition to providing reliable, cost-effective power, Entergy’s investments in its generation portfolio transformation and nuclear improvements since 2000 have resulted in substantial reductions in the company’s air emissions, highlighting Entergy’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

The company recently stepped up its commitments again with plans to reduce utility carbon dioxide emissions rates to 50% below year 2000 levels by 2030.

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 450,000 customers in 45 counties. ���ϳԹ��� is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,500 employees.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In this news release, and from time to time, ���ϳԹ��� makes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, Entergy’s plans and expectations with respect to its greenhouse gas reduction goals and strategies, and other statements of Entergy’s plans, beliefs or expectations included in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed elsewhere in this news release and in Entergy’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Entergy’s other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with (1) rate proceedings, formula rate plans and other cost recovery mechanisms, including the risk that costs may not be recoverable to the extent anticipated by the utilities and (2) implementation of the ratemaking effects of changes in law; (c) uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) risks associated with operating nuclear facilities, including plant relicensing, operating and regulatory costs and risks; (e) changes in decommissioning trust fund values or earnings or in the timing or cost of decommissioning Entergy’s nuclear plant sites; (f) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; (g) risks and uncertainties associated with strategic transactions that Entergy or its subsidiaries may undertake, including the risk that any such transaction may not be completed as and when expected and the risk that the anticipated benefits of the transaction may not be realized; (h) effects of changes in federal, state or local laws and regulations and other governmental actions or policies, including changes in monetary, fiscal, tax, environmental or energy policies; and (i) the effects of technological changes and changes in commodity markets, capital markets or economic conditions; and (j) impacts from a terrorist attack, cybersecurity threats, data security breaches or other attempts to disrupt Entergy’s business or operations, and other catastrophic events.

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JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy Mississippi, Inc. has taken another step toward modernizing the electric grid and building the utility of the future. The company intends to purchase the Choctaw ���ϳԹ��� Facility, a modern power plant in French Camp, Mississippi, subject to regulatory approval.

The plant is a clean and modern 810-megawatt, combined-cycle natural gas turbine unit owned by a subsidiary of GenOn ���ϳԹ���, Inc. Entergy Mississippi entered into a purchase agreement on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 to buy the plant for $314 million, subject to certain adjustments. That amount is significantly less than the cost to build a comparable facility and eliminates construction time and risks associated with building a new plant, providing more immediate benefits and savings for customers. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2019, subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary conditions to closing. The plant now employs 23 people; Entergy plans to add nine more, making 32 jobs at the Choctaw County facility.

“This is a sound investment in our commitment to meet the energy needs of our customers today and in the future,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. “This plant modernization will create immediate benefits that include greater reliability, lower emissions and cost savings for our customers.”

The plant uses advanced technology known as a combined-cycle gas turbine. CCGT technology uses natural gas and its steam byproduct to produce maximum electricity at the lowest cost. It is also environmentally-friendly and furthers Entergy’s reputation as one of the cleanest utilities in the country.

“This purchase is a continuation of our efforts to update our generation plants to more modern and efficient facilities, and it replaces power plants that have been recently retired or will soon be retired,” said Darron Case, Entergy Mississippi director of resource planning and market operations. “We have retired approximately 700 megawatts of original, older generation in the past several months. This newer plant also helps us meet a growing need at the most economic market price for our customers. The purchase will also provide the opportunity for the retirement of additional older plants in the near-term.”

“It’s important to us to be able to help Mississippi compete today and in the future for new jobs and investments,” said Fisackerly. “We’re also proud that our acquisition of this plant will allow for its continued operations and delivery of economic benefits to the area through local taxes and jobs.”

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 449,000 customers in 45 counties. ���ϳԹ��� is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

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